May 14, 2013                                                                john@nebraskafarmersunion.org

Nebraska Farmers Union Opposes Senator Johanns Efforts to Repeal Country-of-Origin-Labeling

LINCOLN (May 14, 2013) – Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) opposes in the strongest possible terms Senator Johanns’ offered amendment to repeal Country-of-Origin-Labeling (COOL) to the Senate Agriculture Committee Farm Bill proposal.  COOL is the law of the land and authorization and implementation language has been included in the past two Farm Bills in 2002 and 2008.

NeFU has strongly supported Country of Origin Labeling since 1984, and has diligently worked through the 2002 and 2008 Farm Bills to get COOL labeling established and effectively implemented for 29 years.

“COOL continues to be strongly supported by consumer organizations and most organizations representing family farmers and ranchers,” said John Hansen, NeFU President.  “Food consumers rightly want to know where the food they buy for their families was grown and processed so they can make an informed buying decision in the marketplace.  The primary opposition to COOL comes from the U.S. meat processing cartel.”

NeFU strongly believes that U.S. family farmers and ranchers deserve the opportunity to differentiate their food products from their foreign competition in the marketplace.  U.S. farmers and ranchers rightly take pride in the products they grow, and are not afraid of honest competition.  U.S. food is produced with the highest food safety, environmental, and labor standards in the world.

NeFU supports USDA efforts responding to the WTO challenges of COOL by Mexico and Canada.  “If implemented properly, we believe these USDA labeling revisions represent an improvement in the transparency and accuracy of U.S. food labeling by providing consumers with even more detailed information about where meat products are born, raised, and processed,” said NeFU President Hansen.  “The WTO process should be given the opportunity to work.”

“We understand why Canada and Mexico do not want honest and accurate labeling information,” said Hansen.  “They know that U.S. food consumers prefer U.S. produced meat products.  The U.S. based international meat processing cartel prefers to import foreign meat products and then blend them with higher quality U.S. produced meat products because the old system of marketplace deception is extremely profitable.  We are deeply disappointed with Senator Johanns’s efforts to repeal COOL on their behalf.”

“NeFU strongly opposes Senator Johanns COOL repeal amendment and urges the Senate Ag Committee to reject it.  COOL is good public policy and good marketplace policy. COOL represents marketplace honesty and transparency for both U.S. food producers and U.S. food consumers,” said NeFU President John Hansen.  “Senator Johanns’ efforts to repeal COOL would be a huge step backwards,” he concluded.

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KXL Permeability Overlay

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April 11, 2013

Nebraska Farmers Union Submits Supportive Comments on Country-of-Origin-Labeling

LINCOLN (April 11, 2013) – Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) submitted supportive comments on Thursday, April 11, the final day for comments to USDA relative to their proposed rule to strengthen Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) regulations.  The USDA proposed changes to the rules for COOL implementation are in response to the World Trade Organization (WTO) decision on COOL.

In their comments, NeFU stated:  “NeFU is in general support of the proposed revised rule relative to the implementation of COOL.  If implemented properly, we believe these revisions represent an improvement in the transparency and accuracy of U.S. food labeling.  We appreciate the USDA efforts made to respond to the World Trade Organization (WTO) case in a positive way so our nation can continue to implement effective COOL.  It is in our national interests to do so.”

“NeFU strongly believes that U.S. food producers deserve the opportunity to differentiate their food products in the marketplace, and that U.S. consumers also deserve the opportunity to know where the food products they purchase for themselves and their family come from.  Whether you are a food producer or food consumer, you deserve honesty, accuracy, and transparency in the marketplace, which is exactly what clear and effective labeling represents.”

NeFU pointed out in their comments that their organization has strongly supported Country of Origin Labeling since 1984, and has diligently worked through the 2002 and 2008 Farm Bills to get COOL labeling established for 29 years.

Further comments from NeFU President John Hansen noted:  “I have had the honor of serving as the president of my organization since 1990.  I can honestly say that our members support for COOL is stronger today than it was in 1984.  While our members support for COOL is high, so is their frustration over the never ending attacks on COOL by the meat packers and their political allies within the ag sector.  They seem to believe they are above the law.”

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Nebraska Farmers Union is a general farm organization with 6,200 farm and ranch family members dedicated to protecting and enhancing the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers and ranchers, and their rural communities.  Since 1913, Nebraska Farmers Union has helped organize over 440 cooperatives.  Visit our webpage at:  www.nebraskafarmersunion.org

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Lincoln, NE – 18 agricultural students and their professors from 4 different Nebraska Colleges traveled to Minneapolis, Minnesota February 14-17 to learn about cooperatives under the guidance of Nebraska Farmers Union.  The participating colleges included the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Northeast Community College at Norfolk, Southeast Community College at Beatrice, and Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture at Curtis.  The College Conference on Cooperatives brought a total of 97 students from 32 different Midwestern colleges and universities making it the largest College Conference on Cooperatives held to date.

The Cooperative Conference included tours of the CHS (Cenex Harvest States) Headquarters, the REI Sports Sales Coop, housing coops, food coops, and the Mill City Flour Museum.  The Conference brought in speakers from a vast array of areas including renewable energy, ag coops, rural electric coops, credit unions, and new coops.  NeFU Public Affairs Director Graham Christensen said, “We had another great conference.  The feedback we received from the students and professors was very positive.  The students learned about a host of different ways cooperatives can serve communities, and the wide range of career opportunities available that utilize the benefits of the cooperative approach to economic development.  Everyone left Minneapolis excited about these new opportunities.”

The conference evaluations revealed that 47% of the students in attendance were from farms or ranches, 31% were rural, 12% were from small towns, and the remaining 10% were urban. Christensen said, “The College Cooperative Conference helps make more students aware of additional cooperative tools that can be used to create the economic opportunities needed to help our rural youth stay in their communities.  We are pleased to partner with these Nebraska colleges to help send Nebraska kids to this Conference.”

The annual College Cooperative Conference is co-sponsored by the CHS Foundation in cooperation with the National Farmers Union Foundation.  Nebraska Farmers Union was awarded a grant from the CHS Foundation to help defray the attendance costs for the Nebraska participants.

Nebraska Farmers Union is a general farm organization with 6,200 farm and ranch family members dedicated to protecting and enhancing the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers and ranchers, and their rural communities.  Since 1913, Nebraska Farmers Union has helped organize over 440 cooperatives.

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Lincoln, NE.  Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) called upon House Speaker Boehner to be the Speaker of the entire House of Representatives and use all of the votes available to him in both political parties in the House of Representatives to accomplish those major unfinished tasks currently bottled up in the House of Representatives, including the Farm Bill, the Production Tax Credit for wind energy, and the fiscal cliff.

Nebraska Farmers Union President John Hansen said, “Our farmers and ranchers are facing the economic consequences of the worst drought in 50 years, and the alarming prospects that drought may be continuing into 2013.  Farmers are rightly wondering why their Congress is failing to respond to their situation, why they have allowed the 2008 Farm Bill to expire September 30^th, and why they are unwilling to give the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) the funding and program authorization it needs to respond to their situation, particularly livestock producers.”

“The Senate and House Ag Committees have done their job by sending a Farm Bill proposal with bi-partisan support to their respective bodies for consideration.  The Senate has done its job by voting for their version of the Farm Bill.  The problem in the House is that Speaker Boehner refuses to put the farm bill proposal from the House Ag Committee on the House agenda for a vote. ”

“Folks should rightly be asking, why not?  Is it because the House of Representatives lacks the votes to support the Farm Bill?  No, that is not the reason.  If the Speaker would count all the Democratic votes and moderate Republican votes, there are enough votes to pass the Farm Bill, and likely most of the other issues also languishing in the House of Representatives dungeon.  Tragically, Speaker Boehner refuses to assume his responsibilities to be the Speaker of the House who is supposed to lead both political parties.  Instead he continues to count and consider his own Republican Party caucus votes.  Speaker Boehner allows the minority Tea Party block within his party to control the agenda because they are opposed to the Farm Bill along with the Production Tax Credit for wind energy development, and most of the budget proposals tied to dealing with the fiscal cliff.  As a result, the will of the majority of House voters is being denied by a relatively small minority group of House Republicans.  That is difficult to accept.”

“Speaker Boehner knows the votes within his own party caucus may be lacking, but he also knows there are enough Democratic and moderate Republican farm state votes to pass the Farm Bill if allowed to do so.  Speaker Boehner must step up to the plate and assume the responsibility to govern that comes with being the Speaker of the House of Representatives as the Founding Fathers intended.  We encourage voters to contact their member of the House of Representatives and ask them to put pressure on the Speaker to put the Farm Bill on the agenda before the end of the year,” Hansen concluded.

Since 1913 Nebraska Farmers Union has worked to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.

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 1).  Farm Bill

WHEREAS, extreme weather events have increased uncertainty and variability in agriculture production and pricing;

WHEREAS, livestock producers are struggling with drought conditions, lack of water, lack of forage, and increasing feed costs;

WHEREAS, conservation programs in the Farm Bill are often the most effective means of mitigating drought, flooding and other extreme weather events;

WHEREAS, price supports and safety nets provided in the Farm Bill increase stability in the marketplace;

WHEREAS, drought relief for livestock producers in the Farm Bill is vital for keeping these producers and their operations viable during extreme conditions;

WHEREAS, the Farm Bill is the single most important piece of legislation affecting agriculture nationwide;

WHEREAS, this is the first time since 1933 that Congress has not passed a Farm Bill;

WHEREAS, the United States Senate has already passed a version of the Farm Bill;

WHEREAS, NeFU does not support at short-term extension as an adequate remedy for the Farm Bill.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE NEBRASKA FARMERS UNION urge the House of Representatives to pass a comprehensive Farm Bill as soon as possible, based on the bi-partisan bill passed by the House Agriculture Committee.

2).  Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS)

WHEREAS, Nebraska is the #2 ethanol producing state in the U.S.;

WHEREAS, ethanol has been an enormous driver of economic development and job creation inNebraska;

WHEREAS, ethanol has added value to commodity prices;

WHEREAS, the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) has been the key driver of ethanol demand;

WHEREAS, the RFS will continue to drive 2^nd generation bio-fuels which create additional markets for farmers;

WHEREAS, removal of the RFS will not relieve livestock feed shortages caused by the drought as distillers grains are still being utilized and ethanol production co-products are a key component of many livestock rations;

WHEREAS, removal of the RFS will only increase the potential for a more volatile climate since biofuel production is one of the key mitigators of climate change caused by increased Carbon Dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere;

WHEREAS, removal of the RFS would only make future production shortfalls more likely;

WHEREAS, implementation of the Strategic Grain Reserve would be a better alternative for feed shortage relief and would create an additional safety net and market for farmers;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE NEBRASKA FARMERS UNION support keeping the RFS standard in place.

3).  Climate Change

WHEREAS, Carbon Dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere are causing radical climate change in the world;

WHEREAS,Nebraskaagriculture could be drastically changed if the climate issue is not addressed immediately;

WHEREAS, farmers and ranchers have an enormous opportunity to provide leadership to help mitigate rising GHG gases with the development of new renewable energy and conservation markets;

WHEREAS, further development of these new markets would yield significant economic opportunity forNebraska;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MEMBERS THE NEBRASKA FARMERS UNION urge our policy makers  to immediately enact comprehensive climate and energy policy that will put a price on carbon and a portion of those dollars created will go to increase development of new renewable energy and conservation markets designed to help  mitigate rising greenhouse gases.

4).  Wind Energy

WHEREAS, Nebraska has the 4^th most wind potential in the United States;

WHEREAS,Nebraska is not in the top 25 in wind developed;

WHEREAS, increased wind energy development would lead to increased rural economic development opportunities in Nebraska;

WHEREAS, increased wind energy development would add important property tax revenue into rural communities;

WHEREAS, increased wind energy development would help conserve water, the most important resource on our planet;

WHEREAS,Nebraska’s energy grid would be more secure with more localized energy development;

WHEREAS,Nebraska is not able to export a significant part of its wind energy potential due to infrastructure costs of building new transmission lines;

WHEREAS,Nebraska needs to identify available capacity on existing transmission lines in order to pick up the pace of development;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE NEBRASKA FARMERS UNION calls for a long-term extension of the production tax credit;

FURTHERMORE, NeFU requests a statewide study identifying available capacity on existing transmission lines in order to create a roadmap for distributed wind and renewable energy development;

FURTHERMORE, NPPD should work to develop a statewide plan to implement distributed wind and renewable energy development plan with the findings of this study;

IN ADDITION, NPPD is not considering all costs when considering new energy generation options;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE NEBRASKA FARMERS UNION propose that rural economic development, use of water, health care costs, environmental costs, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions be included in state statute, regarding public power’s mission statement of only providing consumers with lowest present value rates.

5).  Keystone XL Pipeline

WHEREAS, diluted bitumen, or “dilbit,” also known as “tarsands” or “oilsands” crude is not recognized by Congress or the Internal Revenue Service as “crude oil,” thereby relieving pipeline companies such as TransCanada from paying into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, which is utilized to pay for damages and clean-up costs in the event of pipeline leaks and spills;

WHEREAS, TransCanada has never released an ingredients list of the chemical components of diluted bitumen toNebraskaemergency responders;

WHEREAS, major oil pipeline companies such as TransCanada are not bound byNebraskalaw to pay economic damages to landowners in the event of pipeline leaks and spills;

WHEREAS, current Nebraska law grants foreign oil pipeline companies such as TransCanada the privilege of eminent domain even if a federal permit has not been issued for the project;

WHEREAS, the legislature’s taking of pipeline siting and routing power from the Nebraska Public Service Commission and granting it to the Governor is likely unconstitutional, thereby rendering illegitimate the process by which the currently proposed TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline is being reviewed;

WHEREAS, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality’s review has failed to accomplish its objective of keeping the pipeline away from areas of sandy soils high water tables;

WHEREAS, the NDEQ review has failed to accomplish its objective of keeping the pipeline from crossing the Ogallala aquifer;

WHEREAS, the NDEQ review process and the Draft Report itself has not been transparent or accessible to manyNebraskacitizens,

WHEREAS, HDR, the firm conducting the NDEQ review, has a clear conflict of interest in that matter due to previous contracting with TransCanada;

WHEREAS, Governor Dave Heineman has publicly called for denial of the permit for the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline if the pipeline route crosses the Ogallala aquifer;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE NEBRASKA FARMERS UNION call on Governor Heineman to reject the review done by the NDEQ and restore the pipeline routing and siting process back to the Public Service Commision where it belongs;

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we urge the State Department to conduct its own Environmental Review of Nebraska Reroute of the Keystone XL as part of its Environmental Impact Statement, and that the EIS include an assessment of the pipeline’s life-cycle impacts on climate change;

FURTHER, we urge the Nebraska Legislature to repeal 2012’s LB1161, to eliminate eminent domain loopholes that allow oil pipeline companies to use eminent domain, and to require that all ingredients and chemical components of diluted bitumen must be released to Nebraska emergency responders and other appropriate agencies.

IN ADDITION, we call on President Obama to deny the permit for the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline due to the above mentioned conditions.  NeFU will not support the Keystone XL pipeline unless all of the above mentioned conditions are resolved.
6).  Taxes

WHEREAS, reduction or elimination of the state income tax would put undue burden on Nebraska landowners as property taxes would rise;

WHEREAS, reduction or elimination of the state income tax would lead to increased sales tax in Nebraska;

WHEREAS, we support a balanced approach to taxation so that all areas carry a fair and equal (to extent possible) burden;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE NEBRASKA FARMERS UNION oppose any effort to reduce or eliminate the state income tax as a remedy to balancing the state budget;

FURTHERMORE, we support raising the income tax in order to lower rising property taxes.

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December 7, 2012

GRAND ISLAND, NE.  At their 99^th annual convention at the Midtown Holiday Inn, the Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) announced the launch of the Farm To Fitness Program as part of their ongoing efforts resulting from an agreement with the Humane Society of the United States to identify, expand and promote new markets for humanely-raised livestock products in Nebraska.

“Farm To Fitness connects health-minded consumers to local producers of nutritious, humanely-raised foods,” said Ben Gotschall, Lancaster County Farmers Union president.   “The program can include gyms promoting local producers to their members, personal trainers developing diets for their clients based on locally-sourced meats, and fitness centers providing a drop point for cooperatively-purchased food orders.”  Partner gyms, personal trainer profiles, and participating farmers will be promoted on the Farm To Fitness website (www.farmtofitness.com), which will feature other links and information for interested consumers.

“Farm to Fitness presents a great opportunity to provide quality food to people who have made an effort to increase their overall health,” said Jordan Barnes, a personal trainer in Lincoln.   “Access to this service enables people to make positive changes not only to their personal health but also to their local communities and the environment,” Barnes added.  “I believe that this is a first step to creating a market that, with enough support, could change how our food is produced.”

“The farm to Fitness program is a good match between food producers and food consumers,” said John Hansen, president of Nebraska Farmers Union.  “This collaborative effort is a win-win for everyone.  We have made a lot of progress this past year with our joint efforts with HSUS to identify new value-added markets that our livestock producers can utilize.”

“We at are very excited to be a part of the Farm to Fitness program,” said Heath Murray, co-owner and trainer at iThinkFit gym in Omaha.  “We take pride in providing our clients with proper workouts, supplementation, and now, some of the finest meats in the world.  This relationship is going to take our business to the next level.”

“This new program is clear evidence that the HSUS collaboration with the Nebraska Farmers Union is delivering results that are good for animals, good for farmers and good for consumers.  I congratulate John Hansen for his leadership in this effort.”  Stated Joe Maxwell, Director of Rural Development and Outreach for HSUS.

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December 2, 2012

LINCOLN, NE.  Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) will highlight livestock issues Saturday morning December 8^th at their 99^th annual state convention to be held in Grand Island at the Midtown Holiday Inn.  Livestock producers and the public are invited to attend.

Nationally recognized livestock market expert and retired USDA GIPSA Chief Administrator J. Dudley Butler will report on the particulars of the recent Congressional efforts to strengthen and update USDA’s anti-trust regulations and agricultural marketing definitions and standards.  Butler will also speak on the future of the livestock industry.  Butler will make his presentation 9:00 a.m. Saturday morning, the second day of the two day convention.

Later Saturday morning, Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska President and Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion Board member Dave Wright will report on beef checkoff activities and issues.

NeFU President John Hansen said, “Since 1980, meat packer consolidation, non-competitive marketing practices, and vertical integration have squeezed thousands of livestock producers in Nebraska out of business.  Nationally, according to the latest USDA data, there are 42% fewer beef producers, 91% fewer swine producers, 82% fewer dairy producers, and 33% fewer sheep producers.  Unfortunately, while livestock producers have done an outstanding job of producing high quality livestock and milk, they failed to produce the necessary profit to pay their bills and stay in business.

It is high time we address the root cause for the loss of livestock producers instead of chasing meat packer financed media disinformation  generated wild goose chase diversions.”

The agenda for the entire NeFU Convention held December 7-8^th can be found at: http://nebraskafarmersunion.org/ai1ec_event/killa_agenda/?instance_id=122.

Registration begins at 8am Friday morning. Convention begins at 9am Friday, and resumes 8:30am Saturday.  As always, Farmers Union members and the public are invited to attend.   For more information call the NeFU State Office at 402-476-8815.

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November 30, 2012

Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) would like to let all landowners and Nebraska citizens know that Brian Jorde, an attorney with Domina Law Group, will be speaking about the recently formed Nebraska Easement Action Team, better known as NEAT, at the 99th Annual NeFU State Convention.  The Convention will be held at the Midtown Holiday Inn in Grand Island.

Jorde will be presenting on Saturday morning at 11:25am, and NEAT will have a booth where landowners and citizens can get more information on the Keystone XL Pipeline, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) review process of reroute, and also how to become a member of NEAT.  Sign-up sheets will also be available at the NEAT Booth in the Exhibitor/Break Area at the Midtown Holiday Inn.

NEAT is a non-profit landowner rights group with the purpose of creating a standard and strong Nebraska easement designed to protect Nebraskans from all oil pipelines and oil pipeline companies.

“Many new landowners on the new route have many questions in dealing with TransCanada easements.  This will be an awesome opportunity to get some facetime with a true easement expert in Domina Law Group Attorney Brian Jorde.  Every landowner should attend this event”, said Public Affairs Director Graham Christensen.

This event is timely as it falls shortly after the December 4^th NDEQ public comment session and hearing at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Albion at 6pm.

The agenda for the entire NeFU Convention can be found at: http://nebraskafarmersunion.org/ai1ec_event/killa_agenda/?instance_id=122.  Registration begins at 8am Friday morning. Convention begins at 9am Friday, and resumes 8:30am Saturday.  As always, everybody and anyone are welcome.   For more information call the NeFU State Office at 402-476-8815.

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